Jul 20, 2011

ICC, WAR CRIME, RAPE of LIBYA : Commedia dell'artE (part I)

If an entire continent rejects an alleged international institution’s actionsas illegitimate and self-serving, does said institution still get to call itself “international?” Furthermore, does it still hold any sort of mandate to continue on as self-proclaimed international arbiter? Certainly not, and for the International Criminal Court, whose “arrest warrant” for Libyan leader Moammar Qaddafi was soundly rejected by the 53-member African Union, their last shred of self-proclaimed credibility has been rendered moot.

The arrest warrant itself is based on ICC’s own “investigation.” The ICC said, “in the course of its investigation, due to unprecedented cooperation from different States and organisations (none of which are currently working in Libya), the Office of the Prosecutor has been able to collect extensive documentation and evidence in a short period of time, through 30 missions to 11 States, and through interviews with a large number of persons, including key insiders and eyewitnesses. ” Such a premise is so recklessly irresponsible, so baseless, and so morally bankrupt, it is easy to see why the African Union has such a difficult time accepting it.

The International Criminal Court itself claims to be, “an independent, permanent court that investigates and prosecutes persons accused of the most serious crimes of international concern, namely genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.”

US kill team in Afganistan

A visit to the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC) site reveals just who is behind the ICC, who is actively promoting it and networking with the ICC’s various NGO partners, and the fact that all involved boast the same financial and political supporters.

The CICC claims to include, “2,500 civil society organizations in 150 different countries working in partnership to strengthen international cooperation with the ICC; ensure that the Court is fair,effective and independent; make justice both visible and universal; and advance stronger national laws that deliver justice to victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.” The CICC however, also is “deeply appreciative of the generous support” provided by the European Union, the Ford Foundation, the Fortune500-lined John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, George Soros’ Open Society Institute, and Humanity United.

African Union executive Jean Ping called the ICC discriminatory, going only after “crimes” committed in Africa while ignoring those committed by the West in places like Iraq,Afghanistan, and Pakistan.The AU has also condemned France for its blatant violation of the already illegitimate UNSC r.1973 by dropping weapons to Libya’s Al-Qaeda-linked rebels.

Meanwhile, US National Endowment for Democracy-fundedProject on Middle East Democracy reported that in reaction to Libya’s threats to fight back against NATO aggression, U.S. State Department Spokesman Mark Toner said, “This is an individual who is obviously capable of carrying out these kinds of threats. It’s what makes him so dangerous. But we continue to carry out the NATO mission, while at the same time increasing pressure on him to step aside.” Like France air-dropping weapons to admitted terrorists, the US attempting to remove Qaddafi is a direct violation of the NATO coalition’s own contrived UN resolution. That the ICC isn’t filing cases against NATO members for their multitude of crimes, and the fact that an entire continent has rejected the ICC’s decision, settles the fact for all concerned that the contrived organization holds absolutely no legitimacy.